White Castle Started With Just $700. More Than 100 Years Later, It’s Still Family-Owned
In 1921, $700 could buy a two-chair barber shop, a thriving urban newsstand, or even a pair of new Ford Model T cars. That very same year, a real estate broker named Billy Ingram teamed up with his friend Walter Anderson, a pioneering short-order cook, to invest that sum into a pioneering new venture.
They channeled their money into launching White Castle. The castle-shaped diner sold small, thin, square beef patties with onions for just five cents each. While Anderson revolutionized the kitchen by developing a smash-griddle cooking technique, Ingram created a brilliant marketing strategy using gleaming white architecture.
There were no celebrity endorsements, no big advertising campaigns, and no drive-through lanes. Yet 105 years later, White Castle remains one of America's most recognizable fast-food brands. What began as a single, five-stool counter in Wichita, Kansas, evolved into a multimillion-dollar fast-food empire. Remaining family-owned to this day, the brand now has hundreds of locations, and the Original Slider was named the "most influential burger of all time" by Time magazine in 2014.
With fourth-generation leader Lisa Ingram in charge as CEO (or "slider queen,") White Castle's story centers on a family. They were determined to grow a business without surrendering control of its legacy.
Two Men, One Big Idea and $700
The unlikely partnership began with two men and their talents complemented each other. Walter Anderson was a resourceful cook who understood how to make hamburgers quickly and consistently. Edgar Waldo "Billy" Ingram was an insurance and real estate businessman with a keen sense for opportunity. Anderson had already been operating hamburger stands, but expanding his operation required capital. Ingram supplied a $700 investment and became his business partner.
In 1921, they opened White Castle in Wichita, laying the foundation for what became America's first fast-food hamburger chain. Anderson brought the food expertise. Ingram brought the business vision.
In the early 20th century, hamburgers did not enjoy the wholesome reputation they have today. Following public concerns about unsanitary meatpacking practices, many Americans viewed ground beef with suspicion. The 1906 publication of Upton Sinclair's The Jungle , which exposed appalling conditions in the meatpacking industry, had heightened anxiety about food safety.
Ingram saw that selling hamburgers took effort, even beyond making them taste good. He also needed to persuade people that the burgers were clean, trustworthy, and worth eating. His solution was to make the restaurant itself a symbol of cleanliness.
Why a Castle Changed Everything
The name White Castle was no accident. White suggested cleanliness, while the castle represented strength and stability. The restaurants were designed to look bright, orderly, and reassuring. They were a big change from the greasy hamburger shacks that had shaped the public's perception of the food. This was a place where customers could feel confident about what they were eating.
Anderson helped establish standardized cooking methods, while the company emphasized cleanliness, uniform preparation, and consistent service. Customers could expect the same basic experience from one location to another. The hamburger itself was also unique. Instead of a large, thick patty, White Castle served small, square burgers cooked with onions. They were inexpensive, easy to handle, and perfect for eating on the go.
The Five-Cent Burger
White Castle popularized selling burgers by the bag. The company eventually promoted the slogan "Buy 'em by the Sack." At a time when restaurant carryout was not very well established, the idea helped turn an ordinary meal into a convenient purchase. The early menu also included coffee, Coca-Cola, and apple pie. The formula was simple. The company offered affordable food, predictable quality, and fast service.
The Little Burger That Helped Invent Fast Food
White Castle helped create what we call "fast food." During the 1920s, the business expanded beyond Wichita into other cities, building a recognizable chain around standardized products. Long before fast food became a global phenomenon, White Castle could reproduce the same experience across multiple locations.
In 1933, Ingram bought out Anderson, who retired from the business. Ingram subsequently moved the company's headquarters to Columbus, Ohio, in the mid-1930s. One of the chain's great innovations came in 1947. A Cincinnati White Castle operator named Earl Howell introduced five holes in each hamburger patty. The holes helped the meat cook faster and more evenly, reducing cooking time while preserving the chain's distinctive preparation method. White Castle later received a patent for the idea.
By 1961, White Castle had become the first fast-food hamburger chain to sell one billion burgers. It introduced drive-through service in 1980 and brought frozen Sliders to grocery store freezers in 1987. The little five-cent burger had become an American institution.
The Family That Refused to Let Go
Perhaps the most unique part of White Castle's story is what the company chose not to do. Unlike many competing restaurant chains, White Castle has remained privately held and family-owned rather than building its business around conventional franchising. That structure gives the company direct control over its restaurants and allows the family to prioritize long-term decisions over the demands of public shareholders.
Today, the business is led by Lisa Ingram, Billy Ingram's great-granddaughter and a fourth-generation family leader. More than a century after the original investment, the founder's descendants remain directly involved in guiding the company. In an industry where restaurant brands frequently change owners, restructure, or pursue aggressive expansion, White Castle remains family-owned.
White Castle's loyal fans even have a name: "Cravers." The company established its Cravers Hall of Fame in 2001 to celebrate particularly passionate customers. For some fans, White Castle is a late-night ritual. For others, it is a nostalgic reminder of childhood, family road trips, or the taste of fast food.
From a Five-Cent Burger to the Future
In April 2026, the company announced plans to deploy its Crave & Go automated hot-food kiosks across 1,000 locations in partnership with Automated Retail Technologies. The machines are designed to prepare Sliders on demand in places such as workplaces, college campuses, and healthcare facilities, including locations where a traditional restaurant might not be practical. The company remains devoted to its mission "to feed the souls of Craver generations everywhere." As Lisa Ingram has said, "This is my family's labor of love."
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This story was originally published by Parade on Oct 28, 2026, where it first appeared in the Food & Drink section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
